Abstract: A prosthetic walking system including a pylon, a prosthetic ankle, and a prosthetic foot, any two or more of which can be integrally connected into a single, continuous unit. The prosthetic ankle can be a rearwardly-facing, generally C-shaped member, and may include an upper leg, an interconnecting portion, and a lower leg. The prosthetic ankle may include a weakened portion so that the prosthetic walking system is better adapted to flex at the prosthetic ankle rather than at the pylon. A link or link assembly can be coupled to at least one of the pylon and the upper leg of the prosthetic ankle and to at least one of the lower leg of the prosthetic ankle and the prosthetic foot in order to limit the displacement between the upper leg and the lower leg of the prosthetic ankle.

Abstract: An inventive prosthetic ankle for use between a pylon and a prosthetic foot to support a person's weight on the ground comprises an integrally formed, generally C-shaped carbon-fiber composite flexure member having upper, lower and curved legs. The upper leg is connected to a lower end of the pylon, and the lower leg is connected to an upper surface of the prosthetic foot. The curved leg interconnects the upper and lower legs, with the curved leg extending from a forward edge of the upper leg to a forward edge of the lower leg in a rearwardly-facing arc about a medial/lateral axis positioned forward of the pylon. The curved leg is dog-boned to facilitate canting of the pylon with respect to the prosthetic foot in the medial/lateral plane. Also, the curved leg is resilient to resiliently bias the upper and lower legs apart from one another so the legs are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another when the person's weight is off the prosthetic ankle.

Abstract: An inventive prosthetic ankle for use between a pylon and a prosthetic foot to support a person's weight on the ground comprises an integrally formed, generally C-shaped carbon-fiber composite flexure member having upper, lower and curved legs. The upper leg is connected to a lower end of the pylon, and the lower leg is connected to an upper surface of the prosthetic foot. The curved leg interconnects the upper and lower legs, with the curved leg extending from a forward edge of the upper leg to a forward edge of the lower leg in a rearwardly-facing arc about a medial/lateral axis positioned forward of the pylon. The curved leg is dog-boned to facilitate canting of the pylon with respect to the prosthetic foot in the medial/lateral plane. Also, the curved leg is resilient to resiliently bias the upper and lower legs apart from one another so the legs are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to one another when the person's weight is off the prosthetic ankle.

Abstract: In a prosthetic foot constructed to store strain energy as the foot reacts to the load of the amputee's body during walking, running, jumping, etc., and then to release the stored energy to create foot lift and thrust which complements the user's natural stride, a monolithic cantilever beam made of a hardened polymer is provided as the keel of the foot with an ankle attachment fitting for connection to a standard upper prosthesis. A flexible foamed polymer is molded about the keel, in the shape of a natural foot, to transfer horizontal loads to the keel and to serve as a cosmetic cover.